feijão
/fe(j)ˈʒɐ̃w̃/masculine
The Portuguese word for bean is feijão.
Feijão is the general term for bean. Specific varieties include Feijão-mulatinho (brown bean) and Feijão-fradinho (cowpea bean).
Meaning: seed of a Fabaceae plant (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the word fava is used specifically when referring to a broad bean.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of feijão is feijões.
How do you pronounce it?
/fe(j)ˈʒɐ̃w̃/
Did you know?
- The phrase feijão com arroz (beans with rice) is used as an idiom to describe something basic, standard or a routine that is done perfectly.
- The word feijão comes from the Latin phaseolus, which is believed to have originated from the Ancient Greek phásēlos.
- The choice of feijão color can be a regional marker in Brazil, with Rio de Janeiro favoring black beans and Minas Gerais preferring brown beans.
Examples in context
- Eu gosto de comer feijão no almoço.I like to eat beans at lunch.
- O feijão está no armário da cozinha.The bean is in the kitchen cupboard.
- Você comprou o feijão preto?Did you buy the black bean?
Example conversation
In a grocery store, Juliana asks Rodrigo about the shopping list.
- JulianaRodrigo, você pegou o feijão?Rodrigo, did you get the bean?
- RodrigoSim, eu coloquei no carrinho.Yes, I put it in the cart.
- JulianaÓtimo, agora precisamos de arroz.Great, now we need rice.
- RodrigoVou buscar o arroz agora.I will go get the rice now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bean” translations and entries feijão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries feijão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
